Kevin Smith explained how his approach to Netflix's upcoming Masters of the Universe: Revelation differs from Noelle Stevenson's approach to She-Ra and the Princesses of Power.
Speaking to io9, the writer/director described his main goal for his new adult-oriented continuation of the original He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon by stating, "Our manifest was to be fanservicey."
Smith elaborated on this mission and how it differs from She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, saying ,"We did not have a kind of creative, let’s call it, freedom to reinvent the franchise the way that She-Ra did and did it brilliantly. [Noelle Stevenson’s] She-Ra cartoon played to a lot more people than it probably ever would have played to if they just kept it in its original incarnation. But She-Ra, even in its era, wasn’t as well known as He-Man and the Masters of the Universe so there’s more room for creativity there. And in fact, that’s what they were allowed to do."
Smith noted that he admires what Stevenson was able to accomplish with She-Ra but wouldn't be interested in taking such a loose approach to adaptation himself. "To be honest with you, I wouldn’t have taken the job if they were like, 'You get to reinvent He-Man and the Masters of the Universe," he said. "I’m really not that creative. I would not be the guy you’d tap to reinvent something. But if you want to keep it going lovingly, true to the franchise and just growing up the characters a little bit so their conversations are a little more adult-oriented? [I’m your guy.]"
Developed by Kevin Smith and produced by Mattel Television with animation by Powerhouse Animation, Masters of the Universe: Revelation stars Mark Hamill as Skeletor, Lena Headey as Evil-Lyn, Chris Wood as Prince Adam/He-Man, Sarah Michelle Gellar as Teela, Liam Cunningham as Man-At-Arms, Stephen Root as Cringer, Diedrich Bader as King Randor/Trap Jaw, Griffin Newman as Orko, Tiffany Smith as Andra, Henry Rollins as Tri-Klops, Alan Oppenheimer (original Skeletor) as Moss Man, Susan Eisenberg as Sorceress, Alicia Silverstone as Queen Marlena, Justin Long as Roboto, Jason Mewes as Stinkor, Phil LaMarr as He-Ro, Tony Todd as Scare Glow, Cree Summer as Priestess, Kevin Michael Richardson as Beast Man and Kevin Conroy as Mer-Man. The series premieres July 23 on Netflix.
Source: io9